Radiator used with internal combustion engines



Aug. 22, 1939. B MORRQW AL 2,170,214

RADIATOR USED WITH INTERNAL comsusnou ENGINES Filed June 7, i957 Z 7INVENTOR 041 w. vul

ATTORNEYfi Patented Aug. 22, 1939 PATENT OFFIQE RADIATOR USED WITHINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Homer B, Morrow and George W. Walker,

Platteville, Wis.

Application June 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,841

5 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in radiators used with internalcombustion engines.

The object of our invention is to provide in an automotive type radiatoran overflow pipe provided with a trap and means associated with the trapto insure the restoration of a sufficient quantity of liquid in the trapto prevent the escape of vapors, and to thereby control pressures in theradiator.

More particularly stated, it is the object of our invention to provide atrap in the overflow pipe of a radiator wherein a bleed hole is sopositioned as to restore a liquid seal in the trap whenever pressures ofvapor or air blow through the trap and displace the liquid seal, thusassuring a prompt restoration of the means for controlling pressures andlimiting loss of vapor.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an automotive radiator of generallyconventional type with my improved overflow pipe incorporated therewith.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughoutthe several views.

The conventional type of automotive radiator includes a core 50 made upof tubes H and fins l2. At the lower end of the tubes II is a tank orheader l3, and at the top of the tubes is anothertank or header l4.Within the tubes and the tanks a liquid coolant is provided and thesupply of liquid may be introduced through a filler opening l5, wherebyto bring the liquid in the radiator, and especially in the upper tank il, to the level desired.

In modern automotive practice, it is usually preferred that a cap I6 forthe radiator filler opening l5, shall be substantially air-tight and anoverflow pipe I! is provided for the relief of excess liquid or ofvapors under high pressure. We are aware that outlet or overflow pipeshave been provided heretofore with various types of traps, some of whichhave a configuration somewhat like the trap shown at l8, but if the trapl8 is merely a trap and nothing else, it is common for the trap tooperate as follows:

Assuming that the liquid level has been properly established when themotor served by the radiator is cold, it is not long before theoperation of the motor will heat the liquid in the radiator and causeexpansion thereof, whereby to pass some of the liquid through theorifice E9 in the upper end of the overflow pipe. The liquid thuspassing into the overflow pipe will pass through the trap and bedelivered as excess coolant through the outlet opening 20. When theexpansion of the coolant ceases and all of the excess has been deliveredthrough the overflow pipe ll, the heating process may progress to thepoint where vapor under pressure accumulates in the filler opening l5under the cap l6. Under the pressure of this vapor in the old typeoverflow pipes provided with a conventional trap it, the vapor will pushthe trapped liquid out of the U- tube 2|, and thus remove the liquidseal which is so much desired in modern automotive radiator practice.Thereafter any vapor accumulating in the upper portion of the-tank I4will be passed out through the overflow pipe ll and will be lost sinceit is common knowledge that the aspirating effect of the air movementpast the outlet opening 20 due to the movement of the automotive vehicleequipped with a radiator, will draw the vapor from the upper portion ofthe tank l4, and when this action has continued for sufficient time,will result in lowering the liquid in tank l4 below the normal or safelevel.

In our improved overflow pipe provided with a U-tube 21 forming part ofa trap l8, we provide 7 an opening 25 and this opening is so shaped andpositioned as to receive liquid from a point in the tank M which is verydefinitely below the normal level of liquid in the tank,for instance,very definitely below the dotted line 26 which marks the point at whichthe trap l8 will normally control the liquid level in the tank I4.

The bleed opening 25 is of suitable diameter, preferably approximatelyof an inch to slowly fill the U-tube 2| with liquid after vapor has beenblown down through the overflow pipe H.

Thus when the liquid in the radiator has been overheated and vapor underpressure has developed in the upper portion of the tank M, the pressurewill force vapor through the overflow pipe IT by forcing the quantity ofliquid out of the U-tube, and out of the outlet opening 20. When theexcess pressures have been dissipated, the liquid seal in the U-tube 2!will be restored through the bleed opening 25. It will be understoodthat the diameter of the bleed opening 25 is gauged according to thediameter of the tube used in the overflow pipe 11, whereby to determinethat the pressure upon the top of the liquid in the tank l4 cannot forceliquid through the bleed opening 25 into the U-tube so rapidly that thepressure of vapors through the outlet orifice l9 cannot clear the liquidseal from the U-tube 2|, and we have found that in an overflow pipe I!of the inside diameter of A of an inch, a bleed opening 25 of a diameterof of an inch is satisfactory, and in an outlet pipe of of an inch ableed opening of of an inch is satisfactory.

It thus appears that we have provided an overflow pipe for an automotiveradiator which will be constantly sealed against vapor release, exceptat those times when excess pressures must be relieved, and after therelief of such excess pressures, the liquid seal in the U-tube 2! isrestored so as to prevent escape of vapor under ordinary pressures.

Likewise, if there is a tendency to establish a partial vacuum in theradiator system, air to relieve it may be received through the trap andthe liquid seal will be immediately re-established after the air hasbubbled into the upper header or tank.

We claim:

1. In a radiator to be provided with liquid, an overflow pipe, a trap inthe overflow pipe, and a connection for liquid between the radiator andthe lowermost portion of the trap.

2. A radiator provided with liquid and having an overflow pipe extendingfrom an orifice generally downwardly to an outlet for discharge ofoverflow liquid, a trap in the overflow pipe comprising a downward andupward reverse bend of the overflow pipe, whereby to accumulate liquidin the reverse bend and blockade vapor which might otherwise escapethrough the orifice, the lowermost portion of the reverse bend beingbelow the normal liquid level in the radiator, and a connection forliquid between the lowermost portion of the trap and the liquid in theradiator, whereby to establish a quantity of liquid in the trap.

3. In a radiator provided with a header tank, an overflow pipe extendingfrom a high point in the tank to a point of discharge at a point belowthe tank, a trap in the overflow pipe whereby to establish a liquidlevel in the tank below the overflow point, the trap having aconvolution to receive liquid whereby to block Vapor attempting toescape through the overflow pipe from the upper portion of the tank, thelowermost portion of the convolution being connected with the liquid inthe tank, whereby to pass liquid into the trap to restore the seal inthe event that the liquid in the trap is inadequate in quantity to blockthe vapor, the liquid connection comprising a conduit of smallerdiameter than the diameter of the overflow pipe.

4. In a radiator to be provided with liquid, an overflow pipe, a trap inthe overflow pipe, and a connection for liquid between the radiator andthe lowermost portion of the trap, the diameter of said connection beingin the ratio of 'g fi of an inch or less for a inch overflow pipe.

5. In a radiator provided with a header tank, an overflow pipe extendingfrom a high point in the tank to a point of discharge outside theradiator, a trap in the overflow pipe whereby to establish a liquidlevel in the tank below the overflow point, said trap being providedwith a convolution the lower-most portion of which is contiguous to theradiator, said radiator and said convolution at their point ofcontiguity being provided with an opening for passage of liquid toassure a liquid seal in said trap.

HOMER B. MORROW. GEORGE W. WALKER.

